Lexus

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – September 19, 2019

Lexus Premieres Their New LY 650 Luxury Yacht

The new Lexus LY 650 luxury yacht is making its world premiere in Boca Raton, Florida after a concept version was released back in January 2017. Lexus designed this yacht in collaboration with Italian yacht design studio Nuvolari Lenard. This 65-foot yacht is the epitome of luxury on the seas. Inside the yacht, Lexus joined both advanced design style with omotenashi, a Japanese term that describes hospitality meant to sincerely fulfill a guest's needs. The layout is simple, yet elegant with a bright white theme that opens up to the view of the ocean around the yacht. see all lexus for sale For the hull, Lexus combined both CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) with GFRP (glass fiber-reinforced plastic). This construction was developed thanks to a partnership between Lexus and Marquis Yachts LLC. Moving this hull across the water are twin Volvo Penta® IPS engines, which are more than just powerful. To monitor the boat, Lexus installed LY-Link which provides information regarding the yacht. If something out of the normal pops up, an alert is sent via text message. If you want to check the new Lexus LY 650 yacht for yourself, you can see it at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Oct 30- Nov 3, 2019.

By Andrew Nabors – September 03, 2019

Lexus LFA: Why to Buy

Sakichi Toyoda is honored in Japan as the "King of Inventors" He invented the world's first automatic loom, enabling Japan's textile industry to take on the world. He patented it in 1926 at only 93 years old. History repeats itself in amazing ways, and his great-grandson would unveil the world's most complex automatic loom in 2011. Not for textiles, this loom had one purpose: building the ultimate carbon fiber supercar. The Lexus LFA was and is a statement of Toyota's engineering dominance. Akio's vision was to shake up the world's most exotic automakers with a car unlike any other. After the body was woven as one-piece, it was vacuum bagged and fired in an autoclave. After a decade of trial and error, what emerged was a light & aerodynamic monster. The window sticker had an MSRP of $375,000, so they decided to give it a Lexus badge as their premier brand. LFA Driveline Browse Lexus LFA For Sale Because the weave of the carbon fiber gives it such strength, the Lexus LFA does without the traditional aluminum subframes used by McLaren and Lamborghini. It has been compared to the strength of the Brooklyn Bridge, which could support itself even without the support cables. A car this strong does not need stiff suspension, so it is a pleasure to drive. " width="680"> When you ask the average enthusiast what "tuned" is, they probably guess fuel and ignition timing. While this is critical in any car, Akio pushed his engineers to tune every component. Turning to their family friends at Yamaha, he set goals for the resonant frequency of every part. From the coolant surge tank to the door handle springs, every possible vibration will happen at speed only rockets can travel. That translates to the car feeling more solid than anything you have experienced. If you could drive a Stradivarius, this is it. Rejecting the notion that small engines and big turbos are the future, many of us figured it would be a naturally aspirated V8. The world was shocked to find a perfectly balanced V10. The cylinder heads are separated by 72 degrees (720-degree firing order divided by 10 cylinders). This makes it the smoothest V10 ever offered in a production car. Thanks again to Yamaha, every moving part has an incredible harmonic balance. This allows the 4.8L engine to reach 9,000 rpm in 0.6 seconds. This is faster than the tachometer can respond. All those harmonic parts add up, and the LFA can shatter even the finest crystal wine glasses with its exhaust roar. After having seat time in several examples, the car is a kitten while cruising around. Aside from looking like a work of art, it is tame when shifted early. Pull back on the paddle and invoke the beast. The engine erupts with a rage that would scare Formula 1 drivers. It sends 553 horsepower and 354 lb-ft to a carbon fiber driveshaft. Matching Luggage Was Optional You might be quick to dismiss those numbers. Sure they build prototypes with more power, but the LFA doesn't need more. Because even the smallest parts work in unison, you will have more acceleration and grip than your Italian friends. This project cost so much, Toyota lost money on each car sold. The only way to experience this masterpiece is to drive one, so click the link below to find one near you. Browse Lexus LFA For Sale " width="680"> Featured Image Source: RM Sotheby's

By Andrew Nabors – August 14, 2019

2020 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series is a Mean Green Machine

To quote a famous Muppet, "It ain't easy being green". Lexus seems to have solved that problem, because the 2020 Lexus LC 500 Inspirations Series is a mean green machine. Limited to 100 examples here in the U.S., the exterior is a brilliant metallic pearl known as "Nori Green". The metal flakes play off the car's body lines very well. I had not noticed the rear fender flares before this model, and it makes me respect their design team even more. Unique 21" wheels have a 2-tone finish, and the 2-tone motif continues inside. The 10-way powered seats are covered in aniline leather. The Saddle Tan color is unique to this series. The door panels are finished in a slightly darker shade of Alcantara. The remainder of the interior is black leather with brown contrast stitching. The finishing touch are sill plates reminding you of this special series. No changes were made under the hood, so you still have 471 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic. Pricing will be announced this fall, so stay with us for all your Lexus updates. Browse Lexus LC 500 For Sale " width="680"> Related: Lexus Unveils 2019 LC 500 Inspiration Series in Chicago Lexus LFA Price, Specs, Photos & Review

By Andrew Nabors – July 30, 2019

2020 Lexus LX 570 Sport Package Offers Tasteful Upgrades

Big SUVs are back in style and our friends at Lexus have several to offer. The LX series has been their flagship for decades, and it has a following unlike any other. Because it is many things to many people, the 2020 Lexus LX 570 Sport Package offers tasteful upgrades. Announced in a press release yesterday, it includes interior and exterior refinements. Starting with the obvious, a new grille and lower spoiler offer more cooling to the radiator while retaining ground clearance for 4WD mode. It is surrounded by chrome trim that also adorns the mirrors. Moving inside, you will be seated on semi-aniline leather in black, cabernet, or moonlight white. The Luxury package is included in the Sport Package, so you will have heated/ventilated front seats and 4-zone climate control. Mark Levinson Audio developed the reference-quality 19-speaker audio system, and you will be riding on unique 21" wheels. These goodies are only available on the 3-row model, so go big or go home. Click the link below to find your new Lexus and stay with us for all your SUV news. Browse Lexus For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – June 11, 2019

Lexus QZ 618 Galactic Enforcer Jet for "Men in Black: Int...

If you expected Lexus to reveal a new spaceship today, you're an insane guesser that's in for some good news. Why? Because the new Lexus QZ 618 Galactic Enforcer jet has been revealed, specs and all. Alright, so this jet is actually a "concept" but it will be used in the upcoming "Men in Black: International" film. Still, the press release for the jet is lays the information out like it was the real deal. They even have performance figures: "Performance Lexus’ very latest Quasar Power Source Technology (QPST) Propulsion system named after Black Hole TON 618 122 MPG (Millennia Per Gallon) Three driving modes: EcoDrive, SportDrive, QuantumDrive 0-60 in 0.0000000000001 nanoseconds Light-speed-matching capability" For that kind of performance, Lexus had to get some tech from the future. Again, Lexus lays out a fantastic bit of info here for the jet's tech: "Technology IGPS (Inter-Galactic Positioning System) Amazon Alexa* understands all seven trillion alien languages Gamma ray headlamps Infinite scaling technology" Yeah boy, gamma ray headlamps. Eat your heart out, LEDs. But it doesn't stop there. For the interior, Lexus used "intergalactically sourced, ethically spawned Adorian leather." I've never heard of leather being spawned, but... here we are. They also note that the jet is available in six different colors, but they recommend Umbra Black, the "darkest black in the entire universe." Naturally. Whoever wrote this press release had a great time. They even included a few footnotes that explain some of the astronomical terms, like quasar and galactic nucleus. Bless you, whoever put this together. Learn About the Lexus RC F Track Edition " width="560">

By Andrew Nabors – May 13, 2019

Build Your 2020 Lexus RC F Track Edition

Lexus has thrown a host of updates to the RC F for 2020, and here is our take on their latest F-Series sports coupe. If you are curious as to what's under the sheet metal, build your Lexus RC F here. First off, you will need to choose between the standard model and the RC F Track Edition. The difference of $31,900 includes carbon fiber hood, roof & rear spoiler, along with titanium exhaust. This all adds up to 176 lbs less than the base model. Only 100 examples of the RC F Track Edition will be produced, and your color choices are Ultra White, or Matte Nebula Gray. The latter adds $3,100 to push the MSRP into six digits. Clicking on the other colors reverts the build back to the normal RC F. Moving inside, the only interior offered on the RC F Track Edition is Circuit Red Alcantara with Red Carbon Fiber trim. And once again, picking any of the "available" colors below reverts your build to the base model car. This forces you to start over, so just play along with it. On to the infotainment system, the Mark Levinson surround sound system spreads 835 watts across 17 speakers. In case you never heard of Mr. Levinson, his patents on sound became part of Harmon/Kardon in the early 90s. Needless to say, the system is reference quality. It is the only way your car will have navigation or a 10.3" (non touchscreen) display. The all-weather package adds headlight washers along with warmers for the windshield wipers for $130, no thanks. We're getting close! A final set of options includes the triple-beam LED headlights for $1,160, and parking assist for $500. Having the best headlights always helps, and we can park ourselves. In summary, our window sticker is $104,660 plus a delivery fee of $1,025. For that, we will receive a 472 horsepower V8 that is rated at 3.96 seconds to 60 mph. The 5.0L design has a 12.3 compression ratio. This delivers 395 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. It is EPA rated at 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway for a combined 19 mpg. It is needless to say that each one is built to order, and it has the quality and attention to detail that Lexus is known for. Click the link below to build yours, and stay with us for all your Lexus updates. Lexus RC F Configurator

By Edward Jones – April 04, 2019

2020 Lexus RC F Track Edition Revealed: A New Japanese Bl...

The new 2020 Lexus RC F Track Edition has been unveiled as the automaker's best toy to take on a circuit. It features a revamped 5.0-liter V8 engine that now produces 472 horsepower (an increase of 5 hp) and 395 lb-ft of torque. Lexus notes that their new RC F Track Edition will complete a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.96 seconds and have a top speed of 168 mph. To make it track-ready, Lexus went above and beyond to make it formidable on any circuit. One of the most important aspects of any race car is that it's as light as can be. For that, Lexus dropped the weight by 176 lbs when compared to the previous RC F, coming in with a total weight of 3,781 lbs. Track cars need more than just a light weight, however. Brembo carbon ceramic brake rotors, six-piston Brembo calipers, 19-inch BBS forged alloy wheels, titanium muffler and connector pipes, carbon fiber roof, and a new aero package complete the track setup. The 2020 Lexus RC F Track Edition price is set at $96,650 (dest. not included). Only two paints will be available: Ultra White and Matte Nebula Gray. Expect them to hit dealers soon. view all lexus rc f for sale

By Andrew Nabors – February 25, 2019

Lexus Celebrates 10 Million Cars Sold

A new Japanese luxury brand arrived 30 years ago. Ejii Toyoda saw a need for high quality reliable cars in the US. To make sure they started on the right foot, the Lexus LS400 sedan had been in development since 1983. The Lexus story is one for another day, but their relentless testing and engineering have led to a major milestone. In a press release last night, Lexus celebrates their 10 Millionth car sold. I decided to see what all the buzz was about in 2003, when I started working nights at Lexus of Orlando. We had a full inventory of IS, GS, SC, RX and LX to enjoy. What I learned is that even with high mileage, there were rarely any catastrophic failures to speak of. We received the last manual transmission cars to be sold in the US, and it changed my perceptions of what Toyota was capable of. Their press release says 638,330 cars were sold last year, a 4.5% increase from 2017. Congratulations to everyone at Lexus on this achievement! Click the link below to find one near you and stay with us for all your automotive news. Shop Lexus For Sale " width="680">

By Edward Jones – February 12, 2019

Lexus and John Elliott Create Nike AF1-Inspired Tires

Nike Air Force Ones have been around for decades and we've seen them produced in a variety of different colorways and silhouettes. There have been low, mid and high-tops, Air Force 2s, and a myriad of special editions. These shoes have been through a lot. Heck, Nelly even dropped a song about them. But now, there's a car out there driving on Nike AF1-inspired tires. Lexus partnered with streetwear designer John Elliott to create a special pair of tires for the first-ever UX, the new luxury compact crossover. These tires were designed to mimic the John Elliott x Nike AF1 shoes and they definitely pull it off with white on white layers and double-stitched leather. Yup, there's leather. “We were excited to merge the streetwear narrative and design cues of our Air Force 1 with a brand like Lexus. We’re thankful they’ve allowed us to use this moment to celebrate the arts and to bring extra energy to our take on a classic,” said John Elliott. “It’s fun to partner with brands that typically live outside the fashion community because it allows us to evolve and continue to push our own boundaries.” It doesn't like you can buy these tires, but you can buy Air Force Ones by clicking the button below. shop on finishline.com

2019_Lexus_LC_500_Inspiration_Edition_f34_53A8EC6923920EFB43D00042D6556CAE0EF13A0B

By Andrew Nabors – February 01, 2019

Lexus Unveils 2019 LC 500 Inspiration Series in Chicago

Next weekend we will be at the Baltimore Auto Show, and Chicago will be thawing out from the Polar Vortex. Their heat is coming from Japan thanks to the 2019 Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series. Announced in a press release this morning, this new edition will be limited to only 100 cars. Each one will arrive in a wild Flare Yellow exterior. This metallic has several layers of clear for a mile-deep shine. The yellow theme continues inside to the Alcantara door panels. Yellow sticthing on the seats, console and glove box make it truly unique. Other highlights include 21" wheels, a carbon fiber roof, and a leather travel bag. Nothing was changed under the hood, as their 5.0L V8 offers 471 horsepower. The problem is that it only has 398 lb-ft of torque. Given the price tag of $106,210, it appears that Lexus is focused on refinement over acceleration. If you need more yellow in your life, click the link below to find our dealer near you and stay with us for all your Lexus news. Browse Lexus LC For Sale Also Check Out: Lexus Unveils RC F and RC F Track Edition in Detroit Lexus LFA Price, Specs, Photos & Review Lexus Unveils the LY650 Luxury Yacht

Lexus

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe